Category Archives: Inspiration

Oprah and Dr. Maya Angelou

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

maya1On yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday, Oprah sat down with Dr. Maya Angelou. At age 85, this gifted literary mother, grandmother and great-grandmother is still taking the world by storm.

Her latest memoir, Mom & Me & Mom, focuses on the deep spiritual connection between Dr. Angelou and her beautiful mother Vivian Baxter. A spitfire with a larger than life presence, Baxter loved and encouraged her daughter throughout her life. Dr. Angelou is grateful for the love she received from her mother, grandmother and son. She strongly believes that kind of love heals the wounds left by a larger society.

Best advice she received—Forgive

Best advice she gave—Have a pristine place deep inside that no one else can touch

Definition of God—All

Definition of Soul—The spirit that longs for All

Quotable quotes…

·         Nobody makes it alone.

·         I had a lot of clouds, but I have had so many rainbows in my clouds.

·         Surviving is important. Thriving is elegant.

·         Religion is only the map. Spirituality is surrender.

·         The caged bird sings because it must.

Honoring Lady Thatcher

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

Margaret_ThatcherFormidable. Dominant. Revered. Stern. Divisive.

So many adjectives come to mind whenever Margaret Thatcher’s name comes up, many of which have earned her the nickname, The Iron Lady.

Agree or disagree with her politics, we all recognize her extraordinary achievements as the first and only female prime minister of Great Britain (1979-1990). She has demonstrated to all of us there isn’t a glass ceiling that cannot be shattered.

Some of my favorite Lady Thatcher quotes…

·         If you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman. (1965 speech)

·         You don’t win by just being against things, you only win by being for things and making your message perfectly clear. (February 1975)

·         Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope. (May 1979)

·         Pennies don’t fall from heaven—they have to be earned here on Earth. (November 1979)

·         To those waiting with bated breath for the favourite media catchphrase, the U-turn, I have only one thing to say. You turn if you want to. The lady’s not for turning. (October 1980)

·         Defeat? I do not recognize the meaning of the word. (April 1982)

·         No one would remember the Good Samaritan if he’d only had good intentions. He had money as well. (January 1986)

·         I am extraordinarily patient, provided I get my own way in the end. (April 1989)

·         If you just set out to be liked, you would be prepared to compromise on anything at any time and you would achieve nothing. (May 1989)

Do you have a favorite Lady Thatcher quote?

Visiting MindBodyGreen

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio
IF YOU’VE BEEN REJECTED, READ THIS


By Joanne Guidoccio
April 7, 2013



Whenever I receive several rejection letters in a week, or feel the need for an extra dose of creative motivation, I read this story, which is adapted from an old folk tale.

***
Each day, ten-year-old Miranda put on the pink tutu that Aunt Amelia had lovingly created for her, and danced around the house. She was a beautiful and graceful dancer, and she was determined to play the role of Sleeping Beauty.


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Visiting MindBodyGreen

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

How I Turned My Life’s Dream Into A Reality At Age 58

Last January, I was on the verge of abandoning my writing dream. I was letting it die a slow death because I was consumed by negative thoughts.

Was I good enough? 
Would anyone want to read the two novels that were languishing in a drawer? 
If I let this dream go, what would take its place?


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Dealing with the Monster Moon

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

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Usually, I skim over my horoscope, smiling or frowning at the message and then promptly forget the specifics. But this past week has been different. Each day, the message has referred to the potent “monster moon” that is passing through this evening.

What is a monster moon?

It is the full moon that occurs when several planets meet at hard angles. Tonight, as the moon grows full, Venus, Mars and Uranus will form an approximate right angle to Pluto. While all of this is invisible to the naked eye, there is concern about the potent tug of war between these feisty planets.

What does that mean?

The annual full moon in Libra signals an increase in proposals and handshakes. That may not be not the case today. Some astrologers are predicting more shouting than listening, especially in circumstances involving weak relationships and unclear goals. Several horoscopes have hinted that the impact of this powerful moon could be felt over a longer period, four days before and four days after March 27th.

What can we do?

Strengthen those weak relationships…Firm up those goals…Don’t go looking for trouble.

Namaste

Honoring Gloria Steinem

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

gloria4Yesterday, feminist icon Gloria Steinem celebrated her 79th birthday. Still beautiful and wiser than ever, she is an inspiration to all women. Her name will be forever associated with the women’s rights movement.

Whenever I need a pick-me-upper, I pick up one of her books and, if I’m in a hurry, I recall her famous quotes.

These are my favorite Gloria Steinem quotes:

Some of us are becoming the men we want to marry.

We’ve begun to raise daughters more like sons…but few have the courage to raise our sons more like daughters.

Most women are one man away from welfare.

God may be in the details, but the goddess is in the questions. Once we begin to ask them, there’s no turning back.

A woman without a man is like a fish without a bicycle.

A pedestal is as much a prison as any small, confined place.

If the shoe doesn’t fit, must we change the foot?

Hope is a very unruly emotion.

The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off.

What is your favorite Gloria Steinem quote?

Oprah and Dr. Brené Brown–Part II

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

brene2I’m glad Oprah decided to spend another Super Soul Sunday with Dr. Brené Brown. Yesterday’s show focused on shame and fear and how they rule our existence. A joy-filled hour packed with aha moments, so many that I will probably watch the telecast several times to make sure I haven’t missed one.

When Dr. Brown started to study shame, she discovered that the decision to study shame had led to the death of many academic careers. No one wants to talk about the most human and primitive of emotions, one  that Dr. Brown so aptly described as an intensely painful feeling that we are unworthy of love and belonging.

She also differentiated between shame and guilt, demonstrating the power of our words.

I’m bad vs I did something bad.
I’m a mistake vs I made a mistake.

I was particularly impressed by the response Dr. Brown’s daughter gave the teacher who commented: “You’re messy.” Displaying a healthy dose of self confidence, the child replied, “I may be making a mess, but I’m not messy.”

As I listened to the telecast, I thought back to my own cancer experience. During those ten months, I discovered who could and who could not bear the weight of my new story. I will always be grateful to the five angels who called me that first weekend and offered specific help. No pity parties or flying debris from those wonderful friends. Thankfully, I did not have to endure too many insufferable comments: “Oh, you poor thing!”; “Bless your heart.” I was moved by the friend who approached me a year later and apologized for not being there for me.

Quotable quotes…

• Unused creativity is not benign. It gets metastasized as rage, judgment, shame…
• Calm people are breathers. They breathe and ask questions.
• Cultivate laughter, song and dance. We need to let go of control and cool.
• Cool is an emotional strait-jacket.
• If there is secrecy, silence and judgment, shame grows exponentially and creeps into every corner and crevice of life.
• Shame is the #1 classroom management tool.
• Shame can’t survive empathy.
• Shame depends upon us buying into the belief that we are unworthy.
• Keep the shadow up front because it can only take you down from behind.
• Share with people who have earned the right to your story.
• Some people confuse connection with the opportunity to one-up you.
• Love and belonging are irreducible needs.

Oprah and Dr. Brené Brown

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

brene2Kindred spirits.

It was obvious on yesterday’s Super Soul Sunday that Oprah and Dr. Brené Brown were forging a long-term relationship as they discussed the most uncomfortable of topics: vulnerability.

The fifth generation Texan had her own issues with vulnerability. A bit surprising for the academic who had devoted many years of research to vulnerability, courage and shame. In 2007, she realized that she wasn’t walking the talk and had a full-on breakdown. After intense therapy, she had a spiritual awakening and revealed her deepest fears at a 2010 TED talk on vulnerability. She became an internet celebrity, reaching over eight million people with that talk.

But the story doesn’t end there.

As Dr. Brown become more popular, the critics came out of the woodwork. She ignored her husband’s advice and read the anonymous negative comments. Devastated, she retreated and spent ten hours watching Downton Abbey reruns. She researched the period and rediscovered the famous Theodore Roosevelt quote:

It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena…if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat.

Dr. Brown decided she wanted to be the man in the arena and came up with her own personal mantra:

If you’re not in the arena getting your butt occasionally kicked, I am not interested in your feedback.

Throughout the telecast, she offered wonderful insights on the scarcity culture, imperfection, and living wholeheartedly. I am looking forward to reading her third book, Daring Greatly.

Quotable quotes…

  • You can’t get courage without walking through vulnerability.
  • #1 casualty of the scarcity culture is vulnerability.
  • There is no innovation or creativity without failure. Period.
  • God is the diving reminder of our inherent worthiness.
  • There is no joy without gratitude.
  • When we lose our tolerance for vulnerability, joy becomes foreboding.
  • Faith – (Vulnerability + Mystery) = Extremism
  • Authenticity is a choice we make every day, sometimes every hour.
  • The ego is the hustler and the message is “hustle for your worth.”

Comes the Dawn

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

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After a while you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul,

And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security.

And you begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises,

And you begin to accept your defeats
With your head up and your eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the grief of a child,

And you learn to build all your roads on today
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight.

After a while you learn…
That even sunshine burns if you get too much.

So you plant your garden and decorate your own soul,
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure…

That you really are strong

And you really do have worth…

And you learn and learn…

With every good-bye you learn.

Veronica Shoffstall

Inspired by Sue Johnston

Posted on by Joanne Guidoccio

suejFacts tell—stories sell.

That’s only one of the many nuggets delivered by Communication Coach Sue Johnston at yesterday’s GWIN (Guelph Women in Networking) meeting.

During a lively interactive session, she guided us through the Three Ps—Purpose, People, Point—needed to craft an effective and memorable 60-second introduction. Working through her double-sided handout, I quickly discovered several holes in my own pitch for Between Land and Sea. While I wasn’t ready to share my personal introduction, I was impressed by the women who stood up and spoke eloquently and passionately about their businesses.

Throughout the presentation, Sue stressed the following points:

  • Keep it simple—three points maximum.
  • Make it about the audience.
  • Invite action and make it easy for the audience to take it.

A seasoned speaker, Sue Johnston delights in helping people find their voices and tell their stories.

Quotable Quote…

Men will want to hear a story if you use a metaphor they will understand.

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